Police suspect maids of helping to kill employers

Police suspect maids of helping to kill employers

JAKARTA (JP): Two house maids have allegedly helped their
lovers commit robberies and murders in two different places in
South Jakarta, according to police sources.

The first incident took place at Jl. Tebet Utara Dalam 27, in
Tebet Timur. The owner of the house, Osamu Iguchi, 78, a retired,
Japanese-born, Indonesian military officer, was killed.

The second occurred on Jl. Bona Indah, in the Bona Indah
Gardens housing complex at Lebakbulus, Cilandak. The victim was
Timothy Henry Kaligis, alias Timi, the four-year-old son of the
house owner.

Iguchi, who lived alone in his house, was found dead at around
4:30 a.m. yesterday by his part-time maid, Isah, who arrived at
the house early in the morning.

Police said that a number of valuables, including cash in US
dollars and yen, was missing from the house. "But we don't know
the details yet," said South Jakarta Police Chief Lt. Col. Sisno
Adiwinoto, who led the investigation team.

Iguchi suffered a serious wound to his head, apparently after
being hit by a blunt object. Pathologists at the Cipto
Mangunkusumo General Hospital also said some of his ribs had
been broken. The murderers then gagged the victim and tied his
legs.

"Looking at the bruises on certain parts of his body, it seems
that he tried to defend himself before he was killed," officer
Sisno said.

According to his eldest daughter, Lianie Iguchi, 46, his
father lived in the house only with his two other maids, Rosidah
and Tumini. Isah, who discovered the body, is only a part-time
servant, she said.

His wife, Jcl. Wattimena, died in 1989 at the age of 72.

Based on preliminary investigations, police arrested two men,
identified as Rosidi and Sarwono.

Rosidi, who apparently is Rosidah's boyfriend, is believed to
have committed the crime along with three other accomplices,
including Sarwono.

"The other two, whose identities are already known, are still
at large," said Sisno.

Police investigators said that Rosidah often informed her
boyfriend about the valuables owned by her employer.

Rosidah and Tumini are still under interrogation by the local
police, who believe that Rosidah was the key figure behind the
robbery and murder.

Iguchi will be buried at the Kalibata Heroes' Cemetery in
recognition of his meritorious service to his adopted country.

He received at least three national honors, including the
Guerrilla Star from the late President Soekarno.

He originally came here as a soldier in the Japanese Imperial
Armed Forces when Japan invaded Indonesia but later defected to
Indonesia. He refused to return to his homeland and decided to
live in Aceh with his wife, Wattimena.

Meanwhile, police have also found many clues in the robbery
case on Jl. Bona Indah which led to the killing of Timi, a
kindergarten pupil. From the clues police strongly believe that
the family's maid, Lipah, 20, played a significant role in the
case.

Police found that the suspects stole several grams of jewelry
and Rp 1 million in cash from the house.

The boy was believed to have been strangled by two men, one of
whom is Lipah's boyfriend.

His body was found by Asnan, a driver of a next-door neighbor,
at around 11:30 a.m.. The driver also found Lipah tied up with a
piece of rope.

"It's a cover-up, a stereotyped tactic aimed at confounding
us," head of the Jakarta Police Detectives, Col. Adang Rismanto,
said when asked why the robbers tied the maid up if the woman was
really an accomplice.

Asnan decided to enter the house after seeing two unidentified
men leave in a hurry.

Several hours later, police arrested Kadir, alias Kardi, for
his alleged role in the robbery and killing.

His accomplice, Ari, alias Bokir, who is also Lipah's lover,
is still at large. (bsr/04)